Chapter 30 Exclusive 11 It smells like her! He...
Butler Chen came to his senses and realized that being slapped was nothing. The important thing was to invite the person back to the second house.
Chen Ying heard the movement behind her, paused slightly, turned around, and said to Chen Jinshi calmly, "Go ahead, don't keep the old man waiting anxiously."
Chen Jinshi gestured for her to continue walking forward: "I'll take you back to your room and then I'll go."
Chen Ying sighed softly: "I'm going back to my own yard, it's just a few steps away, do I really need you to send me there?"
"Why not?" Chen Jinshi refused to give in and was very stubborn.
It was only a few steps from the main gate to Chen Ying's Tinglan Garden, but Chen Jinshi insisted on walking very close to her.
Chen Jinxing tried to appease Butler Chen and offered a few soft words on Chen Jinshi's behalf: "He's just that kind of person. Don't take it to heart. Shi Ge'er has that kind of temper. No one can stand him."
Chen Zhong was comforted by the old man and said repeatedly, "Yes, yes, you are right, I won't argue with you, Second Master."
Chen Jinxing nodded at him with great restraint: "Wait here for a moment, I'll go call him."
Chen Jinshi followed Chen Ying closely. Chen Ying quickened her pace and when they reached the gate of Tinglan Garden where she lived, she stopped and turned to look at him: "We're here, go ahead."
Chen Jinshi's eyes fell on the bunch of dried plum branches on the gate of her courtyard, and he hesitated and was reluctant to leave.
Chen Ying leaned her shoulders against the door frame, her face showing fatigue: "Chen Jinshi, I'm not in the mood to chat with you anymore."
He looked at the unconcealable fatigue in her eyes, his gaze sweeping from her eyebrows to her lips and nose, then looked away: "Then I'll come see you later."
Chen Ying didn't respond, pushed the door open and entered the yard, then turned around to close the door.
Chen Jinshi was quick to reach out and hold the door panel, looking at her with burning eyes: "Chen Ying, whether you believe it or not, I am serious."
"What?"
He pressed the door panel so tightly that it didn't move at all. Chen Ying saw the bulging veins on the back of his hand and her heart trembled. She turned her face away and said in a voice as light as the wind: "Whatever you want, go ahead."
Chen Jinshi then let go and watched her close the door gently. He stood there without moving until the latch fell firmly with a click.
Chen Ying closed the door and stood against it for a long time.
A few crisp bird calls came from the trees in the yard. She raised her hand and pressed her hot cheeks, her breathing becoming disordered.
What should she do?
She cursed herself softly and walked towards the inner room. There was a diamond-shaped mirror on the dressing table. She glanced at it and saw that the person in the mirror had a slightly messy hair because she had gotten up early and gone out for a long time. Her cheeks were flushed and there were tears in her eyes. It seemed as if there was some indescribable spring hidden in her eyes.
She suddenly lowered her head, grabbed the book on the table and started flipping through it. Her eyes fell on the densely packed Chinese characters, and she couldn't read a single word.
After an unknown amount of time, Chen Jinxing's voice came from outside the courtyard: "Mom, if you're tired, take a good rest. I'll ask the kitchen to bring dinner. I'm going to the second room first. The old man is calling."
"I understand." Chen Ying put down the book, walked to the window, and opened it a crack. Outside the courtyard wall, Chen Jinxing was walking away, his steps steady and his back straight.
She watched the figure disappear around the corner, sighed softly, and reached out to close the window.
However, in the main hall of the second house, all the uncles, aunts and cousins from the second and third houses were there, and it was more lively than during the Chinese New Year.
There were several little ones surrounding the two old men. They were all Chen Jinshi’s brothers and sisters, including cousins.
Another aunt nudged her child and said, "Hurry up and congratulate your second cousin. Embrace his literary spirit. In the future, you must learn from your second cousin and pass the imperial examination as well."
Chen Jinshi stood still, with a hint of irritability between his brows.
Chen Jinshi was a much more respectable person than him. He prepared a lot of small red envelopes for Chen Jinshi and stuffed them into his pockets, asking him to distribute them.
People have expressed their congratulations all over my face, so it's not like they haven't expressed anything at all.
The first thing Chen Jinshi corrected when he grew up was that he would only listen to half of what his brother said.
He took the red envelopes and distributed them to his brothers and sisters who he liked, but left out the ones from his second uncle and aunt's house.
His second aunt's face turned yellow.
The two little ones in the second room started to scream and holler. Chen Jinshi almost slapped them in the face: "What are you arguing about?"
"That's enough." The old man spoke, and the whole hall suddenly became quiet.
The old lady glanced at her second daughter-in-law and said: "Today is Shi'er's big day. Why are you crying? It will only bring bad luck."
The second wife quickly covered the mouths of her two younger sons and stuffed them with candy before they calmed down.
The old man put down the teacup in his hand, making a crisp sound.
He swept his eyes across the room, finally resting lovingly on Chen Jinshi. He spoke in a deep and slow voice, "Passing the imperial examination is only the first step. There's still a long way to go. Our clan has some connections with the county government. Although a juren can't be directly appointed an official, they are eligible to enter the civil service. If there's a vacancy in the county government, or if you fail the imperial examination next spring and wait for 'selection', you could be sent to become a minor official like a county magistrate or a teacher. These are all legitimate imperial appointments. Brother Shi, you have good luck! I'll deliver a letter to the county magistrate and see if I can use my ancestors' favor to reserve a position for you."
Chen Jinshi frowned slightly, and gasps were heard all around him.
The second brother was able to get involved in officialdom so quickly!
The old man took a sip of tea and continued, "As soon as they heard the news that you had passed the imperial examination, several local gentry who were close to our Chen family came rushing over, hoping to win you over. They have land and property in the local area, but they just lack a respectable person who can speak to the government..."
As he was speaking, his uncle came over, patted Chen Jinshi on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Brother Shi, you will be the master from now on. When you walk on the street, ordinary people will have to bow to you when they see you!"
Chen Jinshi calmly avoided the man's hand.
The old man talked about the benefits he could get now, and said that he would introduce several local gentry to him. Several people in the hall agreed.
Chen Jinshi sat with his back against a mahogany chair and his hands spread out, looking more masterful than the master.
"The family of a successful candidate can be exempted from the military service for two people, and the land under your name is also tax-exempt. In the future, the clan will inevitably register the land under your name."
Chen Jinshi's eyes flashed with a subtle annoyance, and he said, "Whatever is hung over here is mine. Who of you wants to hang over here?"
As he spoke, his sinister eyes swept over the crowd, and several people who had been thinking about something turned their gazes away.
The old man frowned and said, "Brother Shi, you are grown up now. Don't be like a child, speaking and doing things without manners."
Chen Jinshi's tone was lazy, but unquestionable: "Grandfather, don't come to me about the land transfer. If you really want to transfer it, the land deed must be in my name, and the rent must belong to me. As for the matter of socializing with those gentry, I don't like to get involved, so don't bring them to me. It annoys me. And there's no need for you to beg for favors and find me a job with the county magistrate. I don't look down on it."
The flesh on the old man's face twitched, the teacup was placed heavily on the table, and everyone in the room shrank their necks.
"You look down on me?" He stared at Chen Jin, his voice tinged with anger. "A county magistrate and a teacher are also officials appointed by the imperial court. How many candidates have spent their lives trying to get one! Do you think it's so easy to pass the imperial examination? Isn't it a way out to have a respectable job first?"
The second master quickly stepped forward to appease the old man: "Dad, Shi Ge'er is young and hot-headed. It's normal for him to look down on those jobs in the county government. Don't be angry with him."
The old man glanced at the people in the hall. "Listen, what kind of nonsense is this? You've passed the imperial examination, but you don't associate with the gentry, you don't associate with the government. Are you going to emulate those sour scholars who only study? Do you really think you can make a name for yourself with just a pen? I don't believe you, Chen Jinshi, will actually stand in the Golden Palace next spring and have the Emperor personally appoint you a Jinshi!"
Chen Jinshi suddenly laughed, his voice lazy. "Grandfather has always said that I, a jerk, will never amount to anything. I never intended to be anything. I don't even dare to hope for a Jinshi degree, and I don't look down on county magistrates or teachers. Grandfather, please don't worry about it. As for the clan needing my help, I'm sorry, I can't help much."
"It's a rebellion! It's a rebellion!" The old man slammed the table and roared.
Chen Jinxing quickly stepped forward to persuade him, "Grandfather, Shi Ge'er just finished his exams and now he has to prepare for the Imperial Examination next spring. He doesn't have time to think about so much. It's not too late to deal with everything after the Imperial Examination is over."
The old lady also advised: "Don't be angry. Brother Shi has made you angry many times since you were a child. Why are you angry about this? The family should have a nice dinner together tonight. It's never a bad thing for someone to pass the imperial examination."
Chen Jinxing glanced at Chen Jinshi secretly, signaling him to calm down.
The old man snorted heavily and turned to the people in the hall: "What are you all standing there for? Let's set the table. Where's that girl Jinyun?"
Chen Jinxing said: "Jinyun is over there with her mother."
The old lady's expression changed and she said, "It's rare that the whole family is here. Send someone to call Jinyun over. It's not good for Chenying to stay alone. Invite her over as well."
The second wife said, "Oh, the old lady always wants to invite Miss Shen, but Miss Shen never comes. Why does the old lady bother to do that?"
The old lady glanced at her second daughter-in-law, spinning the Buddhist beads in her hand quickly: "The eldest brother said early in the morning that Miss Shen likes quietness and doesn't like crowds, but today is particularly different. Shi'er's success in the imperial examination is a great joy. As a nanny, her three children have called her nanny for so many years. How can she be absent? Go and invite her over."
Chen Jinshi stood up in response, but did not refute the old lady. He said, "I'll go and invite her, Grandma. I'm afraid the two people you sent won't be able to invite her."
The old lady was really choked speechless when she heard his words. Chen Jinxing didn't know whether Chen Jinshi did this deliberately to provoke criticism for his mother.
The old lady waved her hand and said, "Go ahead, but come back soon, or the food will get cold."
Chen Jinshi didn't respond, but turned around and walked out. He took big steps, stirring up a gust of wind, and walked briskly.
Chen Jinxing looked at his back and frowned slightly. It seemed like he was just waiting for this opportunity to disappear.
As soon as Chen Jinshi walked out of the second room, he slowed down his pace and strolled leisurely along the corridor.
The lights in Tinglan Garden were dimly lit. Most of the lights in the yard had been turned off, leaving only a few dim lights.
After dinner, Chen Ying lay down on the bed and rested.
Chen Jinyun had just been here and left alone, so her courtyard door was only half-closed. Chen Jinshi pushed it gently and it opened with a creak.
Chen Jinshi walked in lightly. The lantern under the corridor flickered with dim light, casting his shadow on the blue brick floor, sometimes long and sometimes short.
He knew that Chen Ying would not go to bed so early, and the closer he got to her bedroom door, the lighter his breathing became.
Chen Ying was lying on the bed in a daze when she saw a figure reflected on the window paper.
She was shocked and wondered how Chen Jinshi could come back so soon.
He didn't knock on the door immediately. He stood in the corridor and listened for a while, then raised his hand and knocked: "Am, are you asleep?"
There was silence inside for a moment. Chen Ying almost wanted to lift the quilt and pretend to be asleep, but she was afraid that he would come looking for her at this time, in case he really had something to talk to her about.
He waited for a moment before hearing her voice: "Not yet. What's up? Why are you back at this hour?"
Her voice came out softly and lingeringly.
Chen Jinshi didn't talk about business, nor did he ask her to open the door. He just asked in a deep voice: "Mom, are you lonely being alone?"
Chen Ying looked at the gauze curtain on the top of the tent, her fingertips unconsciously twisting her hair. After a while, she said, "Jinyun was accompanying me just now. I'm a little tired now. If you're fine, I'm going to sleep. You can go now."
Chen Jinshi was standing at the door, his face almost touching the door panel, his whole body leaning on it, casting a thick shadow.
"Something's going on. The old lady wants you and Jinyun to come over."
Chen Ying was stunned. The social engagements of the second house had never come to her eyes, and every time they were rejected by Chen Jinshi in advance.
How come he is regarded as the messenger this time?
"Oh, then go pick up Jinyun, you two can go, and tell them I'm already asleep and I won't be going."
Although Chen Ying was confused, she didn't say much and just thought the old lady was being polite.
The figure outside the window moved, as if changing posture.
Chen Jinshi grinned: "Mom, I'm back now, but I don't plan to go again. You and Jinyun don't have to go."
Chen Ying sat up: "Nonsense! Everyone is finally here, they gathered together just for you, and we should have a good dinner tonight, how can you not be there?"
Chen Jinshi changed his posture again, as if he was lying on the door panel. She didn't let him in, which made him look very pitiful.
His voice came back, with a hint of inexplicable grievance: "But you were not here, I watched them reunite, and what's the point of saying these empty words to me? Am, those people are not my family, you are."
Chen Ying frowned slightly: "What nonsense, your grandparents are here. If it really doesn't work, I can go with you."
She thought he was asking her for this. If it was Chen Jinshi's request, Chen Ying would not be unwilling to go. She was willing to accompany him on this trip.
Chen Ying sat up from the bed, put on her coat, casually braided her hair, opened the door, and Chen Jinshi was standing in front of her.
His eyes lit up: "Am..."
She said with a straight face, "Let's go together."
She stepped forward, and he suddenly grabbed her wrist, not moving his feet.
Chen Ying was stunned. He took half a step forward, almost sticking to her.
The flickering light from the lantern in the corridor illuminated the cunning in his eyes clearly.
"I'm not going. I haven't thought about going since I came back."
Chen Ying reacted and saw him going into her bedroom. She raised her hand to grab his arm, but he took her hand.
His palm was hot, moist with the night dew, and it wrapped her five fingers tightly.
"Chen Jinshi, what are you doing?"
He pulled her into the house, her steps stumbling.
She was angry and anxious: "Chen Jinshi, who let you in?"
Walking to the table, he let her go and said confidently to her surprised and angry eyes, "I missed you."
Her eyes softened again, with a hint of flattery: "Chen Ying, I can't sit still in the second room. As soon as I sit down, my mind is full of you, and I can't listen to what they say at all."
He took her hand again and shook it gently, like a big dog wagging its tail, with a pitiful expression on his face.
Chen Ying knew about the people in the second house. They were relatives. After Shi Ge'er and his mother passed away, the general was away fighting for many years. There were three poor children in the family, and none of the second and third houses said they were willing to take care of them.
Even the old man and the old lady would at most call over Jinxing, who was obedient and capable of doing the work, saying that they were teaching him how to do things, but in fact they were treating him like a servant.
Jinxing is such an obedient child, but the old man always claims that Chen Jinshi is a jerk and is of no use, and it's only because Chen Jinshi disobeys discipline and makes trouble.
He looked at her with such pleading eyes, and she felt sorry for him, he was so pitiful.
So pitiful that she was willing to give him any love he needed.
She felt heavy in her chest and let him hold her hand.
Her tone softened, and she said, "Even if it's just for show, you should stay there. Otherwise, if they ask about it, how will you explain it?"
Chen Jinshi's gaze fell on her trembling eyelashes and her tightly pursed lips, like a hook, making Chen Ying feel uncomfortable all over.
She turned her head away and pulled her hand away. If you want to talk, just talk. Don't hold her hand like this all the time.
"I don't care about that, Chen Ying. I will go crazy if I stay there any longer. You don't want to see me go crazy in front of the old man, do you?"
Chen Ying moved her lips, but couldn't say anything.
The night was long and he sat on her embroidered cushion, like a puppy afraid of being kicked out.
Although he looks like that, if Chen Ying really wants to drive him away, she's afraid he will be a scabby dog that can't be driven away no matter what.
Chen Ying looked at him like this, and there was only an indescribable bitterness in her heart.
He picked up her teacup, poured tea, and drank it himself.
"Have you eaten yet?" Chen Ying asked him softly.
Chen Jinshi shook his head: "No, the banquet hasn't started yet, so I came to find you."
Chen Ying pursed her lips and said, "I still have some snacks left. I'll give them to you."
Chen Jinshi nodded, a clear smile on his lips: "Okay."
Chen Ying turned and went into the inner room, and quickly brought out a gilded lacquer box containing a few pieces of hibiscus cakes and a small plate of pine nut candy.
"That's all. Just make do with it to fill your stomach."
She placed the plates in front of him and sat down on the soft couch beside him. With nothing to do, she picked up the handkerchief from the sewing basket and started embroidering, but for some reason, her fingertips were trembling.
It seemed as if there was a huge monster in her house that could eat people at any time.
Chen Jinshi picked up a piece of lotus cake and stuffed it into his mouth. The sweet and glutinous rice aroma mixed with the flavor of osmanthus spread on the tip of his tongue, and it tasted delicious.
Chen Ying paused and whispered, "Eat slowly, no one will snatch it from you."
Chen Ying looked at the embroidery frame in her hand, and she had no intention of embroidering at all.
The two of them just sat there, the room was quiet, with only the occasional chirping of insects and the sound of wind coming from outside the window.
It's better to just sit there quietly. It's better if Chen Jinshi doesn't cause any trouble again.
Chen Ying covered her chest with her hands. She couldn't bear it twice in one day.
"Mom, I remember you planted jasmine in the flower garden last year. Jasmine has a very strong fragrance. How come I haven't smelled any fragrance yet?"
Chen Ying followed his gaze towards the windowsill and said with a smile, "It must have been poorly cared for during the summer, so it hasn't bloomed yet."
Only now have buds appeared on the branches.
She simply got up, went outside, squatted under the porch and tidied the soil in the flower bed.
Chen Jinshi stood in the house, leaning against the window and said, "Let's bury some fish intestine fertilizer in it this year. Maybe it will work."
Chen Ying nodded: "You can try."
Chen Jinshi said, "I saw that the roses at Old Zhang's house at the corner of the street are blooming beautifully. They looked sickly last year, but this year the buds are all plump. I'm thinking about the jasmine plants you planted last year, so I specifically asked him how he takes care of them."
Chen Ying held a small shovel in her hand and gently brushed away the loose soil on the jasmine roots. Upon hearing this, she looked up at him with surprise in her eyes: "I asked him too, but he wouldn't tell me. He said this was his secret."
Chen Jinshi leaned against the window frame and laughed: "The old man is stubborn. Just buy him a few jars of wine. After I got him drunk, he kept talking to me for half the night."
As he spoke, he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his sleeve pocket, unfolded it, and handed it to her.
"You were avoiding me for a while, and I almost forgot to give you this."
Chen Ying blushed, remembering that a few days ago, she was afraid of meeting him and tried to avoid him in the mansion. If they had not been going to the Imperial Examination Hall to see the results today, she would not have met him.
She said nothing and saw the crooked words written on the paper with charcoal, a bunch of secrets marked on it, and a grinning little man drawn next to it, which was obviously a drawing of himself.
Chen Ying looked at the secret sheet and couldn't help laughing: "It's really hard for you, the handwriting is ugly and full of nonsense."
Chen Jinshi was not annoyed, and said with a smile: "Chen Ying, as long as you are happy, I am willing to do anything."
Chen Ying kept her head down and didn't meet his eyes when she heard this sudden sentence.
She secretly blamed him for saying something for no reason.
She continued to turn the soil, pretending not to hear anything.
He glanced at the embroidery frame she had placed on the couch, picked it up, and said, "Mom, what are you embroidering again?"
Chen Ying replied to him: "Embroider a few new handkerchiefs for winter use."
"oh."
Chen Jinshi touched them and said, "Mine are also worn out. Can you embroider a few for me?"
Chen Ying raised her head and said, "Buy a few for yourself, okay? I don't have that much free time right now."
"How can the ones I bought be as good as your embroidery?"
Chen Ying ignored him.
Chen Jinshi added, "Brother will soon be able to use the handkerchiefs made by my wife. The people in the second and third wives also have them, but I don't."
Chen Ying paused, then stuck the small shovel in her hand into the soil and made it stand still.
She didn't look up, but said sullenly, "They are them, and you are you."
"So I deserve to be unloved?"
Chen Ying raised her head helplessly: "No one said that."
His tone was heavy: "Then tell me, who loves me?"
Chen Ying sighed and stood up. Although she knew he was looking for trouble, she still pointed to the cabinet in the corner of the bedroom and said, "I embroidered a lot a few days ago. You can find one to use."
Chen Jinshi turned around and his eyes fell on the pearwood wardrobe against the wall.
He walked over and turned the door gently, and the cabinet door opened with a creak.
The neatly folded clothes inside exuded a faint fragrance.
It's all her smell!
He almost fainted from the beauty!
Eminem! Eminem!
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